Opinions are divided on the question of whether special e-mountainbikes for women make sense. Some consider such bikes to be a marketing ploy by manufacturers. Others see sufficient reasons for special bike designs in the female anatomy. Developer Vincenz Thoma from the Koblenz-based mail-order company Canyon believes it is important to differentiate: "We have given a lot of thought to how we can offer women bikes that are optimally adapted to them. One thing is clear: the female target group is no more homogeneous than any other. The anatomy of a 1.75 metre tall woman is certainly not necessarily so different from that of a man of the same height that special designs are required." In other cases, a specific construction may make sense. The fact is: women under 1.65 metres have a hard time finding suitable E-MTBs. The range of very small sizes is small. Whether the right XS bike is a women's or a unisex model is of secondary importance.
The challenge: Small sizes and the e-mountainbike-specific requirements - the integration of motor and battery - limit the design freedom of the developers. The motor moves the pivot point of the rear triangle further towards the rear than on a normal bike. The battery also causes difficulties: "For the first generations with the battery integrated into the down tube, we had problems designing the down tube to be as short as would have been necessary for an XS frame," explains Thoma.
It is also worth taking a differentiated look at the chassis. Even with a comparable body size, women are often lighter than men. "Shock absorbers and forks are optimised for a certain weight range," explains Thoma. "If the weight falls noticeably below this range, the suspension elements must be ridden completely open and with little pressure at the limit. This makes the suspension spongier and a lot of performance is lost." For women's bikes, most manufacturers therefore rely on shocks and forks with a larger air volume. This means that even with a lower body weight, a linear adjustment of the suspension elements can be achieved throughout the entire suspension travel, which women often find more comfortable.
Especially for women under 60 kg body weight, an increased transmission ratio on the rear triangle also brings advantages. The ratio of the rear wheel stroke to the shock stroke is normally 1:2.5. If this ratio is increased, the shock can be ridden at a higher pressure despite the lower body weight. This makes the rear end feel firmer and more direct.
The question of suspension travel is also an important criterion when making a purchase decision. And with E-MTBs, generous suspension travel is the trend. Of course, the motor relativises the additional weight and the dwindling drive efficiency that comes with increasing suspension travel. And many bikers equate suspension travel with safety reserves - a somewhat limited view of things, as Thoma finds: "This is only correct if you utilise the suspension travel according to your riding style and preferred terrain." As the suspension travel increases, so does the bike's own movement. The riding feel becomes more indirect. "That's why beginners often get on better with a little less travel."
A final, important point on the checklist concerns the contact points with the bike. The saddle and grips affect your anatomy and must feel "right" for you. Small hands - thin grips. Wide sit bones - wider saddle. The trend towards short cranks generally benefits small riders. They provide more ground clearance, especially on uphill trails. They also automatically fit the shorter leg lengths of smaller riders better. "We use very short cranks with a length of 165 millimetres. But even taller riders shouldn't go over 170 millimetres," recommends Vincenz. Other manufacturers even use 160 or 155 millimetre cranks, which are ideal for short women.
Attention must also be paid to a correctly dimensioned cockpit. However, the naked width of the handlebars is not the deciding factor here. "It's all about good harmony," says Thoma. Factors such as steering angle and wheel size are also important. If a woman with narrow shoulders finds a handlebar too wide, this does not necessarily have to be due to the handlebar alone. The principle behind it: Flat steering angles, wide tyres and a large front wheel require good leverage, ergo: wide handlebars. "And the reverse is also true, of course."
FEMALE ATTRIBUTES
Body geometry, weight, riding style, perception of safety: A special women's bike must take different requirements into account. That's what matters.
1. geometry
The most important measurement that determines whether a small person fits on a bike is the length of the seat tube (see right). The length of the top tube determines the position on the bike: a long top tube leads to a more sporty position, a short one to a central and therefore comfortable position. The chainstays also play an important role in the handling of the bike, especially on e-MTBs: the shorter they are, the more agile the bike is. Small riders in particular should look for short chainstays. A slack steering angle brings advantages on steep and fast descents, but can also result in a certain amount of inertia.
2. undercarriage
A lot of suspension travel helps a lot? Yes, but only if you use it. The decisive factor is that the bike suits the area of use. Do you want a bike that gives you a lot of confidence even in difficult riding situations and rough terrain? Then you can go for 150 mm or more. On tours without high demands on riding technique, you are well served with 130 mm suspension travel. Important: The suspension elements must be adjustable to your body weight. Standard setups reach their limits at values below around 55 kilos. Make sure that the manufacturer has tuned the fork and shock to a low weight.
3. tyres
The higher system weight (rider plus bike) compared to a conventional bike also places higher demands on the tyres. All current e-MTBs come on wheels with a 29 or 27.5 inch diameter. The choice of wheel size should also depend on your height. 29ers may be too bulky for smaller riders. For 27.5-inch wheels, tyre widths of 2.6 to 2.8 inches have now become established: more grip, less punctures, more comfort. Nevertheless, very sporty riders will opt for tyres that are not too wide (max. 2.6) due to the more indirect ride feel.
4th translation
Single chainrings on the crank have become the standard for E-MTBs. Fortunately, because the higher forces on E-MTBs mean there is a high risk of the chain breaking when changing the chainring. If you ride a lot in steep terrain and on high mountains, a light gear ratio creates reserves and conserves power and motor. For mountain tours, the largest cassette sprocket should have at least 46 teeth, while chainrings with a maximum of 34 teeth (Bosch under 16 teeth) are ideal at the front. This makes cranking up steep ramps more relaxed. In addition, you don't have to engage full throttle mode on every steep incline.
5. drive/battery
The motors of most e-MTBs differ less in terms of their bare performance data. What is more important is the subjective feeling of which motor characteristics you like - this is best found out with a test ride. When it comes to batteries, at least for exchangeable batteries, 500 Wh is standard; batteries with
600 Wh are used as standard. This is easily sufficient for shorter rides. However, if you want to go on longer day tours, you will hardly be able to avoid a second battery - so it's worth taking a look at the price.
also worth looking at the price. Due to their size and shape, integrated batteries are sometimes suboptimal as removable batteries.
SIZE COUNTS
The right size determines riding enjoyment, riding dynamics and efficiency. This will help you make a good pre-selection and find the right frame size.
Small riders (under 1.65 metres) find it difficult to find suitable e-MTBs. In this case, the seat tube length is decisive in determining whether a frame fits. Some manufacturers conceal seat tubes that are too long with short-stroke dropper posts. Women who want to ride in demanding terrain should choose a seatpost adjustment range of at least 100, preferably 120 millimetres. However, the seat tube should not be too long.
It is best to ask a second person to help you to correctly determine the stride length, which will help you choose the frame size. You will need a spirit level (or a book) and a tape measure. Now stand without shoes with your back against a wall and push the spirit level all the way up into your crotch. Your assistant must now measure from the top edge of the spirit level to the floor. The spirit level must be levelled horizontally. Now multiply the measured value by a factor of 0.547 - this will give you a guide value for the seat tube length in centimetres. But be careful, this method is no substitute for a test ride!
That's also important.
Size, geometry, chassis - all important. But it's often the details that make the difference.
Pushing aid
At some point, even with an e-MTB, there comes a point where the path becomes too steep. In such cases, a well-functioning pushing aid is worth its weight in gold. "This is perhaps the only really women-specific aspect of an e-MTB," says Woman Camp Leader Greta Weithaler. "If a petite 50 kg woman has to push a bike weighing 22 kg steeply uphill, without a good pushing aid, it's quickly over. For me, this is a clear purchase criterion. You should definitely try out whether you like the function." In addition to the actual power development of the pushing aid, the easy accessibility of the switch is a particularly important point. "The handlebars are controlled with the left hand, while the right elbow puts pressure on the saddle. Then shift to the smallest sprocket and the bike climbs almost by itself," reveals Greta.
Flat pedals
Clipless pedals are popular because of the power transmission when pedalling. This advantage is less relevant for E-MTBs. If you are not explicitly used to riding with clipless pedals, it is better to use platform pedals. These are safer, especially for lightweight women, as it is easier to get off the bike in the event of a fall.
Telescopic support
Adjustable seat posts (min. 100 mm) significantly increase the fun factor, especially on undulating terrain. With E-MTBs, such a seatpost is indispensable, especially for small women. In very steep terrain, it is what makes it possible to start off in the first place. As dropper posts are very expensive individually, you should make sure that the bike is fitted with one as standard.
Handlebar width
"When choosing handlebars, the rider's body dimensions are only one factor. And not the most important one!" says Canyon developer Vincenz Thoma. "A wide handlebar can also be the right choice for a woman with narrow shoulders." More important is a balanced relationship between handlebar width and factors such as fork caster, tyre width and wheel dimensions. In other words, the right leverage ratios must be applied to the handlebars so that you can sensitively counteract the forces acting on the front wheel. Rule of thumb: "The slacker the steering angle, the wider the tyres, the larger the front wheel, the wider the handlebars need to be - and vice versa!"
FRAUENSACHE - Interview with Greta Weithaler
South Tyrolean Greta Weithaler gave up her promising racing career for E-MTB. Today, she passes on her knowledge in women's camps.
Greta, why should women opt for special women's e-mountainbikes?
Especially for beginners, women's bikes are a good way to make a pre-selection from the huge range on offer. I myself am only 1.64 metres tall and ride unisex bikes. I would say that from my size upwards, this is really only an option, but not a must. If a woman is smaller than me, specially adapted bikes have advantages. For example, because the top tube is often bent or set lower, which leaves more legroom.
What should women look out for when buying?
This is not a question of man or woman. You should think carefully about what you want to do with the bike. Whether you want a fully or not, and if so, with how much suspension travel. I generally recommend fullys. Hardtails are usually ridden to save weight. However, this is of secondary importance for e-bikes. You should pay particular attention to the geometry and motor, as these cannot be changed. Components can be swapped.
What needs to be considered with the geometry?
Geometry data is never discussed at the women's camps. Women are not interested in that. For them, it's about feeling comfortable on a bike. And women often have a better feeling than men about whether they feel comfortable or not. However, the feel-good factor can only be assessed on an extensive test ride. For example, I like to ride uphill trails. A short top tube is therefore important for me so that I can sit upright on the bike and overcome obstacles easily.
How do women cope with the higher weight of E-MTBs in relation to their body weight?
It's just a matter of getting used to it. But at the women's camps, the participants are often thrilled with how plush an e-MTB feels on the trail. If the trails are not too difficult and technical, the higher weight even gives many women a feeling of greater safety.
What else do your participants learn apart from how to drive better?
There is a huge interest in repair tips at the camps. Women should maintain their bikes themselves. This increases your technical understanding and you can help yourself on the road if you break down. I always hope that we have a breakdown so that we can practise. And if not, we simulate a breakdown.
